11/00713/F - Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk

Previously planning permission was approved for the conversion and extension of the Old
Smithy barn in 2009. However, this was a more modest proposal with a smaller extension.
This current scheme shows extensions to the north and south of the main barn, with the
northern extension running at right angles to the road. The northern extension makes use of
the changing levels across the site and this two storey section appears as a single storey
extension when viewed from the north.
A new access is proposed leading to a parking area at a higher level in the north west corner
of the site. Sunken terraces are shown and the garden is partly stepped due to the change
in ground levels.
The site is within the Built Environment Type B, the Conservation Area, the AONB and close
to a SSSI. The building is within the grounds of The Old Buck to the south, which is a Grade
II listed building. An application for listed building consent for the works has also been
submitted and has been approved.
SUPPORTING CASE
The application has been supported by a Design and Access Statement which refers:
This existing disused forge, with previous permission to be converted and extended into a
house, will be used as a house. The existing single storey southern extension will be made
into two storey as the existing planning permission. There will be a new extension to the
west.
The new extension to the south involves raising the roof only, as the existing wall is already
at the right height. The west extension, which will appear as single storey, due to the ground
levels distinguishes the access from the private garden behind.
The existing building will be raised by 225 mm. The scale of the building will be therefore be
similar. Existing openings are maintained and no new ones are added on the street scene.
Looking at the axonometric view from the NE the way that the ground level rises shows how
the new west wing appears to be single storey. This will be articulated by a strip of glazing
between new and old on the road side. A Horizontal workshop style window is shown on this
semi-public elevation.
The newly raised southern extension hides behind the existing tall wall. The roofs gradually
rise as the building climbs up the hill and will all be pantiled with secondhand pantiles.
Looking at the rear the sunken garden can be seen. The back wall of the existing building
will need to be rebuilt in similar materials to existing. The new raised southern extension will
be built to match this.
However the new west wing will be in render and timber reflecting a more modern style with
large glazed windows and a small roof terrace. This is all invisible from outside the site and
does not overlook or overshadow the Old Buck. In order to get more light into the lower
ground kitchen low level rooflights are shown like cold frames against the new building.
The sunken garden area relating to the lower ground floor levels is hidden from public view.
A new access is to be formed at the upper end of site. This enables a more logical progress
through the house from North to South
11/00881/F Development Control Board
25 July 2011
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